Symbols and Technical Introduction

READING SCHEME

difficulties

Indicates the overall difficulty of the excursion. See key of difficulties.

Overall time

Indicates the overall walking time, including the descent.

vertical height gain

Indicates the total vertical height gain covered; from the car park or the top station of a lift, to the summit.

type of itinerary

Indicates the type of itinerary that will be tackled. See itinerary key

exposure

Indicates the excursion’s exposure.

back up points

Indicates the back up points during the excursion, like mountain huts, bivouacs or farmhouses.

TYPE OF ITINERARY:

The general information on the type of itinerary is specified:

Marked path: itinerary on a path which is always evident and marked with white-red signs and CAI notice boards. Marked tracks: not very evident itinerary but marked with red signs and cairns. No signs along track: this type of itinerary is not very evident, and has no signs and cairns Without tracks: this itinerary needs to be found using maps and GPS. Equipped path: an exposed path equipped with metal cable. The metal cable is used only for safety but not for progression. Via ferrata: exposed itinerary, equipped with metal cable. The metal cable is used for safety as well as for progression. Ferrata set is needed. Tracks on rocks: this itinerary offers easy scrambling on rocks, and requires a mini-

INTERNATIONAL LAND-AIR RESCUE SIGNS FOR HELICOPTERS AND PLANES

Land-air signs WE NEED HELP

Red flare or light WE DON’T NEED HELP

Land-air signs

Yes

Red material / red flag

Square shape 100x100cm. Red central circle (60cm diameter). White ring 15cm

No

mum amount of mountaineering experience. Eventually, a piece of cord and harness are recommended but not necessary. Climbing route: a climbing route on rock which requires mountaineering experience and climbing gear. Route on glacier: an itinerary on glacier which requires high mountain experience and glacier gear.

GEAR:

Indicates the recommended material needed to tackle each excursion safely:

Hiking gear: trekking boots and poles. Difficult hiking gear: trekking boots, poles, 30 metres rope, a few carabiners and kevlar threads. Ferrata set: a complete ferrata set: sling, harness and helmet. Climbing gear: a 50 metre rope, harness, helmet a few cams, carabiners and kevlar threads. High mountain gear: 30/50 metre rope, harness, helmet, crampons, ice axe, a few ice screws.

AVERAGE DURATION: Indicates the average time taken from the starting point to reach the summit.

RECOMMENDED PERIOD:

Indicates the best time of year to tackle the excursion.

DIFFICULTY:

Indicates the technical difficulty of the excursion.

Excursionist difficulties: does not require the use of a rope. T: Tourist. Easy itinerary which is generally carried out on forestry roads or mule tracks. It is always evident and well sign posted with signs and boards. E: Excursionist. Difficult itinerary along difficult paths but always well sign posted with signs and notice boards. EE: For Expert Excursionists. Very difficult itinerary on difficult paths, sometimes exposed or not so evident. They can offer easy rock sections or the crossing of gullies or snow fields. EEA: for expert excursionists with gear. These are the initials commonly used for equipped paths or via ferrata: A ferrata set is necessary: a sling, harness and helmet.

Excursionist/Mountaineering Difficulties:

the use of a rope depends on personal experience and preparation . EE/F: Easy Excursionist/Mountaineering. Excursionist itinerary with mountaineering difficulties. These initials include all those itineraries which are considered in between difficult excursions and easy mountaineering. These are usually very difficult itineraries, which offer exposed or steep sections or with short climbing sections. They require a steady foot and absence of vertigo, a minimum of mountaineering experience and the knowledge of basic belaying techniques. The use of a rope is not necessary but recommended. The easy ridges are the classic ascents which are part of this difficulty.

Mountaineering Difficulties: require the use of a rope and belaying technique. F: Easy. Easy mountaineering itinerary. On rock: easy climbing sections up to I grade. On ice: easy glacier. Snow covered slopes or ice up to 30°/40°. PD: Not very difficult. Mountaineering itinerary with contained difficulties. On rock: climbing sections up to II grade. On ice: glacier not difficult. Snow covered slopes or ice up to 40°/50°. AD: Quite Difficult. Quite difficult mountaineering itinerary. On rock: with climbing sections up to III grade. . On ice: quite difficult glacier. Snow covered slopes or ice up to 50°/60° D: Difficult. Difficult mountaineering itinerary. On rock: it has climbing sections up to IV grade. On ice: difficult glacier. Snow covered slopes or ice up to 60/70°.

STARTING AREA:

Indicates the excursion’s starting point with its altitude. It can be a car park where you leave your car or the top station of a lift.

ROAD ACCESS:

Indicates the route from the town to the car park where the excursions begins.

DESCENT:

Detailed description of the descent.

CARTOGRAPHY:

Topographic map useful for the excursions.

Carè Alto (© F. Ferri) ÒÒ